i don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.

i now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and i labor with power.

My face is set,

my gait is fast,

my goal is heaven,

my road is narrow,

my way is rough,

my companions are few,

my Guide is reliable,

my mission is clear.

i won't give up, shut up, let up until i have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

i must go til He comes, give til i drop, preach til everyone knows, work til He stops me,

and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because --- my banner will have been clear.

The first time I heard this letter read, I had chills running up and down my arms and tears welling up in my eyes. I was completely moved and enveloped in this very clear picture of what it means to be a disciple and missionary of Jesus Christ. Not much is known about the author of this beautiful, articulate letter. What is thought is that a young man from Rwanda that was a missionary with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship was forced by his tribe in 1980 to renounce Jesus Christ or face death. Needless to say, he chose Jesus. The consequences of that choice seem devastating to those of us living in this world but in light of the future he was promised with the anointed One, the sent One, the perfect One, it is actually joyous."For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:24 What a picture of being faithful. I can't imagine what persecution he was enduring but I am in awe of his heart.